Methods for the in vitro culture of Sporozoea sp. and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of excysting and growing protozoal oocysts by in vitro tissue culture resulting in production of a continuous culture of merozoites. The invention also provides an economical and reliable supply of cultured Eimeria sp. for vaccine production, assays and research. Domesticated avians that have been vaccinated using the provied Eimeria sp. are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 382,428, filed May 21, 2002, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entries.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to culture systems and methods for the continuous culture of sporocyst-forming protozoa of the class Sporozoea and genera and species thereof. The invention also relates to merozoites and oocysts and related-Sporozoea life-stage cells produced by the inventive culture systems and methods, for use in vaccines, assays, and for other uses.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The protozoa of the class Sporozoea include sporocyst-forming protozoa, many of which are etiologic in a myriad of diseases of animals and people around the world. Of particular commercial concern are the diseases caused by Sporozoea of the subclass Coccidia, order Eucoccidiida and sub...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031]The invention still further provides for a method of screening for agents which destroy or inhibit the growth of protozoa of class Sporozoea comprising culturing a Sporozoea species of interest as described supra, with and without contact with an agent to be screened, and detecting inhibition of growth or viability relative to growth in the absence of the agent of interest.

Problems solved by technology

Overall, the combination of losses due to coccidiosis and the costs of prophylactic medication results in significant annual economic losses to the affected industries.

The economic effects of coccidiosis infections in domestic animals is especially severe in the poultry industry, where intensive housing of birds favors the spread of the disease.

For fowl, e.g., poultry, and other domestic birds, Coccidia infection results in economic loss from stunting and skin discoloration.

Once ingested, the parasite penetrates and damages the mucosal layer of the intestinal wall, causing acute morbidity, e.g, resulting in decreased growth and feed utilization in the infected avians.

Under proper environmental conditions, the oocysts sporulate and become infective.

Thus, in domestic avians, the introduction of another species of Coccidia or the introduction of new, previously unexposed birds may result in an outbreak of the disease.

Non-viable protozoa, or antigens from protozoa, have been unsuccessful in conferring the high level of immunity needed to protect against clinical infection.

However, the use of live animals or, in some Coccidia species, chick eggs, to produce viable Coccidia cells for vaccine production is both costly and inefficient.

Propogation of Coccidia in vitro has been attempted, but with only limited success.

However, as noted above, the requirement to use merizoites derived from infected animal tissues limits the usefulness of these approaches.

Another drawback is that an immortalized cell line derived from chickens provides a risk for transmitting tumorigenicity to chickens if used to make live vaccines.

However, as noted above, no in vitro culture system, providing suitable host cells, has previously been available that allows for indefinite propagation of the asexual phase of Coccidia, ie, the merozoites, with conversion to the infectious stage that can be induced only as required.